引き金・引金・引き鉄・引鉄|ひきがねhikigane[0]heiban (flat)

Common

Which spelling to use

引き金引き金 is the most common form and the recommended default for beginners. It is used for a gun’s trigger and, figuratively, for a trigger or immediate cause.

引金引金 is less common than 引き金 and uses kanji only. It can represent the same literal and figurative senses, but learners should normally choose 引き金.

引き鉄引き鉄 is rarely used and combines kanji with kana. It has the same meanings as 引き金, but you will seldom need to choose it.

引鉄引鉄 is rarely used and is written entirely in kanji. It has the same meanings as 引き金, but 引き金 is the practical choice for learners.

Definitions

nountrigger (of a gun, etc.)
その男おとこはピストルを額がくにあて、引き金ひきがねを引ひいた。↗
The man put the gun against his forehead and squeezed the trigger.
nountrigger (for something); immediate cause
陪審団ばいしんだんによる有罪ゆうざい評決ひょうけつが大だい論争ろんそうの引き金ひきがねとなった。↗
The jury's guilty verdict gave rise to widespread debate.

Synonyms & antonyms

SynonymトリガーNeutralLoanword for a gun's trigger or a technical/psychological trigger; also common in speech. 「引き金」 is common in writing, often figurative for the fuse of an event.
Related誘発ゆうはつWrittenWritten/formal prose for inducing accidents or illness; 「引き金」 is a noun that names the cause itself.

Use 「引き金」 for a gun's trigger or the fuse of an event, as in 「〜が引き金となる」. For technical or psychological triggers pick 「トリガー」; in formal writing for inducing something, 「誘発」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions

銃じゅうの点火てんか装置そうちの一部いちぶ。指ゆびで引ひくと嚙み合かみあいが外はずれ、撃げき茎けい発条はつじょうの作用さようにより撃げき茎けいが銃弾じゅうだんの薬莢やっきょうの尾部びぶを撃うち、火薬かやくに点火てんかする。トリガー。
ある物事ものごとを生しょうじさせるもと。原因げんいん。切っ掛きっかけ。

Kanji in this word

引金

English equivalents

trigger

Say it right, write it right